It has taken a lengthy application and four years of hard work, but Thorold has got its bronze status as a Bicycle Friendly Community renewed.
“It does provide a nice feather in the cap for the City of Thorold, for its ability to meet the needs of all those who are doing active transportation,” says Mary-Clare Cavasin who is the chair of the Active Transportation Committee.
Even though Cavasin is satisfied with the bronze status, she was hoping to obtain silver in the certification program, launched by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in Canada.
“When we started the process four years ago they had given us a feedback report and we really went through that quite thoroughly to try to address the different areas. We certainly were hopeful to get a silver status, but I think we’re well on the way to meeting some of the areas that they’re asking us to address a little bit more.”
The bronze re-certification comes with its own feedback report which will help the committee to fine tune the areas the jury thinks need more work.
“We did back in 2019 begin to work with Heart Niagara on a bike education program for grade six students and they’re encouraging us to continue to do that which we’ve already had conversations in that direction,” says Cavasin.
“They’re talking about increasing the number of bike racks in the community which is certainly something we as a committee committed to. And they do recommend the idea of raising awareness of our trails system. In Thorold I think we’re very fortunate with the access to a number of trails but I think through a concerted effort we could maybe get a social media item out that would indicate trails.”
Cavasin is hopeful that in four years time, when the city has to reapply for its certification, silver will be within reach.
“I think there’s nothing they’re recommending in the report that would be areas that we would have difficulty pursuing. Now whether that would allow in four years for a silver designation I don’t know. But it’s not a big report so it’s kind of hopeful. I think there are good points here. It does say right at the top, ‘Key steps to silver,’ so truly that would be the direction we would hope to get. As long as we keep on moving forward, providing the best we can for the City of Thorold.”
